Former New Yorkers

they are everywhere in Palm Springs, Being from flyover, however, I find former New Yorkers mildly amusing, but I get your point

There was a time when living in New York was special and amazing. But that's been dead for 25 years.

NY's sense of importance and being special is second only to Texans. The city tends to produce this sort of arrogance "Only in New York kids" and pride that is really juvenile.

And my mom's from New York and I lived there sporadically for 20 years. When I left, my friends acted like I was going to prison or something.

It's an air of superiority mixed with cluelessness.

As a NYer I agree. There is a tendency to have NYC become part of your identity. That’s why it’s healthy to move away - at least for a while - to realize there are great things about living in other parts of the country too. I chose to come back to NYC but do appreciate CA. But I acknowledge there are bad things - as well as good - about living here and that it doesn’t make me special or important. Just a lifestyle choice.

R2 here - I've commented about this before in other threads and have been ridiculed for it. But here goes -

New Yorkers can be some of the most provincial people you'll ever meet. If it doesn't happen in NY, they don't care or don't think it is important. They only know the tri-state geography and are clueless where other states are.

Not all of them - but a very large percentage.

So true, R5!

And when in L.A. they feel the need to tell you whenever they can, “We’re from New York!” and to almost constantly bring it up in weird ways and say things like: “You can’t get a decent slice of pizza in this whole city! I miss NY *so much*....” and “I *can’t* eat hot dogs here! These are *not* hot dogs...” (and to say it with disdain almost like they feel they’re being “unfaithful” to NYC by even being here).

It’s a weird and “unique” relationship they have with that city/place to be sure.

*they are usually the only out of state people living in CA to act like that

R6 - don't even get me started about all the comments I've heard about getting a 'real' bagel. Many NY bagels are good - but many are not. There are many places outside of NY where you can get great bagels - you just have to know where to go.

Same thing with the pizza. Most NY pizza slices are bland shit - it's just something quick to eat on the street. And NY hot dogs are fucking disgusting.

The over-hyping of NY and looking down at the rest of the country is what they use to justify staying there. There are a lot of great things about NYC to be certain, but it doesn't give you the right to be a condescending, insulting asshole. Particularly when your arguments or complaints about a city is just about ignorance and not knowing where to go to get something.

[quote] There are many places outside of NY where you can get great bagels - you just have to know where to go.

You go too far, sir.

[quote] NY's sense of importance and being special is second only to Texans. The city tends to produce this sort of arrogance "Only in New York kids" and pride that is really juvenile.

New Yorkers are the worst because while they never realized there was a thing called tamales, Texans knew all along about bagels. New York is the most provincial state in the country, bar none.

The complaints are true. My mother used to embarrass me with her boasts about NYC when we travelled, particularly to my brother’s family in Wisconsin.

On the other hand, being part of one of the greatest urban centers in the history of humanity is rather exhilarating. I’m sure residents of Ur were annoying as hell, too.

But really, you cannot get a good bagel in los Angeles. My mother just shipped me a box of bagels from essa bagel in NYC and they were the first propper bagels I've had in over 15 years. On the other hand, you can find very good pizza in LA that is just as good as east coast pie.

Yeah, you can't get good bagel or pizza outside of NYC.

I'm a NYer who travels a lot. Currently in Pittsburgh riding out the plague but I can't wait to get back to NYC. Every time I read threads from non-NYers shitting on NY, all I see are posts dripping with bitterness.

“Provincial” is the wrong word. Self-centered? Absolutely. Isolated? Yes. But provincial is a comparative concept that implies a center the provincials are distant from.

R10 - I don't think New Yorkers don't know about tamales, but I will agree that there is a difference between Texan and New Yorker pride.

Texan pride is easier to take - they just think Texas is the best, but they don't look down on other states or cities so much.

R13 - you don't know what you're fucking talking about. You CAN get good bagels and pizza outside of NYC - just because you travel doesn't mean you know cities well. To say you can't get them is typical asshole behavior. Thanks for confirming everything we've said.

New Yorkers and their stupid obsession with bagels. We get it, you like bagels. The rest of the world could give a fuck about an overrated piece of bread.

I love propper things.

You can certainly get good pizza outside of New York.

Italy does a fine job.

Northern NJ and New Haven also keep up. I like deep dish pizza, so a nod to Chicago.

That’s it.

Love how DL drips of bitterness when it comes to NY. DLers sure do start a lot of threads about a place they deem inconsequential.

Bagel discernment I can understand, but to me , pizza is pizza ,some good , some just ok

I am from New York, now live in NYS and have never lived anywhere else. I have traveled throughout the US and have visited some amazing places. But I think if you're accustomed to New York a lot of the rest of the US seems oddly small-scale. Boston is beautiful but seems like three blocks. Even Chicago, which is a major city by any standard, seemed to rapidly trail off into suburbs and no-go zones in a way that New York does not. The exception for me was LA, but I don't like driving in a city and it seemed that most of LA requires that. I thought the landscape of LA was fascinating though.

R14 - provincial works in the sense of having a limited view of anything outside of your geographical area. Yeah, its a great 'province' to be from, but provincial thinking definitely applies here.

NY’ers are arrogant about NY because deep down, they know the place is not that great and borderline shitty. They’re just overcompensating and trying to convince themselves that it’s not. Delusion at its finest.

Pizza is like sex, even when it's bad it's still pretty good.

[quote] NY’ers are arrogant about NY because deep down, they know the place is not that great and borderline shitty. They’re just overcompensating and trying to convince themselves that it’s not. Delusion at its finest.

Wouldn’t that be true of residents of every major city?

I love how the New Yorkers are now on this thread doing exactly what the OP and other posters said that they did—and are actually in the thread having an active fight about bagel quality!

“Only in New York!”

R19 - this thread is about the attitude (some) New Yorkers bring with them whenever they are out of NYC. It's not bitterness - it's a complaint about the attitude and insults they make (some justified, most are not).

My mom's from NYC, and I lived a large part of my life in NYC. I love the city and its energy - it's like no other place on Earth. But, not everything is great and it doesn't give you the right to insult others, particularly when the comments are based on limited experience in other areas.

It takes awhile for people to realize that no one out West is impressed that they are from New York.

R27, it's bitterness. All you need to do is look at the history of "I hate NYers" posts on DL to know it's bitterness. There are several a month.

R29 - did you read OP's post? It's not bitterness, it's about the comments and interactions. You're being dismissive - I'm sure next you'll say it's because of jealousy.

I did read Ops post, yes. And it dripped with envy -- right down to the "Harvard, surprise!"

R31 - yes, that is what the post is all about. Envy - jealousy's cousin. The OP was envious that these New Yorkers informed them about tamales.

You nailed it. We are all envious of New Yorkers - every last one of us - including those of us who used to live there. We're failed and flawed Americans because we can't hack it in New York. We would do anything to move there or move back, if we could.

You've got our number.

I do, r32.

Ting Tong love New York egg roll

R33 - well, what the fuck are you doing in Pittsburgh then? Is that where you are from originally?

My SO works out here.

It’s getting personal on here....

You will find that the vast majority of "New Yorkers" bragging to the natives about how things are better in New York are not actual native New Yorkers but transplants from Flyoverstan who lived in the city for a few years and decided that "it was the first place I'd ever really felt like I belonged" or similar bullshit and can't give it up.

I'm born and raised in NY, YMF.

And do you say the sorts of things OP is complaining about R39?

I'm tried of the weekly let's shit on NY threads and NY is hurting right now, YMF. I'm more surprised that you, a NYer, would shit on your own city now.

With everything that's going on the best that Op can come up with is to bitch about NYers and tamales before the quarantine.

I guess Op is exhibiting that California shallow.

People from New York are much more territorial and pompous than transplants who only plan on living there for a short time.

R41 - sounds like a real peach. I'm sure his SO in Pittsburgh loves his daily digs on Pittsburgh.

And now he's pissed off because his behavior has been called out and he's now throwing rocks at anyone. Envious! Shallow! And he's going after YMF for 'shitting' over NYC?

Seriously dude, you are the problem.

When I moved to the city, someone said,

"Everyone should live in NYC once in their life. The trick is to leave before you become bitter about it." If you complain you are bitter but don't know it yet.

I lived there 20 years and had a blast, but for me- leaving was like being the frog in the pot and the water is a slow rolling boil. My rent went up drastically three times and had doubled, I was newly married but couldn't move him in with my roommate in a gorgeous Union Sq. apartment, so we moved out to Astoria. It was grungier, noisier and then I lost my company's health insurance and suddenly had to make up the $4000 difference too. I made decent money but couldn't walk out the door without spending $50.

It's different if you're wealthy, have inherited your apartment or have a good scam going.

R18 typically limited and inaccurate New York perspective

We're both NYers, r44. And, I'm calling you out, so I guess we're even on that. You're a peach too! Thanks, doll.

They think they are the trendsetters.

Not OP, but nobody is “shitting on New Yorkers” during the crisis. There are numerous Covid threads and everybody on DL feels terrible for any sick or suffering New Yorkers and everybody wants them safe and better.

DL is bored and we are talking about *everything* right now.

This thread is about the personality of healthy New Yorkers “abroad” (well not really; but New Yorkers outside of New York and in other U.S. states and cities and how NYers behave in them...)

It’s a fair discussion (and Manhattan is largely untouched by illness, even right now...)

Sure, r49, that makes it better.

r10 in defense of the New York I knew before I moved to LA in '89, there was not much Mexican or TexMex food in the city. There was a Mexican place in the village (exterior decor included the back end of a car) that people went to have margaritas and chips. There was also a place in mid town (I think it was mid town) called Caramba! (or Carambas as most people called it) the main attraction being their frozen margaritas and as usual the chips.

Don't know when it changed but I know now there is more Mexican cuisine in the city.

I believe it's arguable that there are no former New Yorkers. It's not like you can take Shout Gel and wash it out of your fabric.

Can someone tell me where to get good pizza in LA? As long as I've been here I've found some okay places but nothing really great. Any place that is in proximity to Hollywood proper would work.

And I'm talking a good pizza place, I'm not going into Mozza and paying $50 to eat some fucking pizza.

Thanks.

R53 Casa Bianca in Eagle Rock

r53 Lamonica's pizza, also the good pizza there is one in westchester and playa del rey. Sorry I don't know of any near hollywood.

Addressing the Harvard part, I added that because he mentions the fact that he went to Harvard in just about every conversation, and it illustrates his attitude. He mentions Harvard so often that many in the office think it could be a drinking game, if we were allowed to drink in the office during the day. Come to think of it, I guess we can drink during the day now!

^must be a graduate school. Alumni of the college prefer discretion.

All the bitter blah blah aside - why is there so little good cheap Mexican in NYC? It’s the one glaring absence in NYC. I love TexMex and it is to find in NYC. Whenever I’m in CA or TX - or CO - I think about moving there just for the abundant and cheap TexMex.

[R57] you are correct! I’ve noticed the same thing among the Harvard alumni in the office.

Perhaps a dearth of Mexicans? We have Dominicans, Puerto Ricans and Central Americans.

[quote]New York is the most provincial state in the country, bar none.

I don't know about that. Some places down south are much more provincial. And up north, don't get me started on Massachusetts.

[quote] Yeah, you can't get good bagel or pizza outside of NYC.I

Yuck! NYC pizza is NOT pizza.

And, yet, r59/Op you decided to attribute that to NYers in your Op post and now you're saying it's a Harvard Alumni thing.

Stick a bagel in your mouth R63

Yet, I'm right.

But what about the tamales? A good one can even melt the hardened heart of a DLer.

"why is there so little good cheap Mexican in NYC"

well, it may not be plentiful - and it certainly isnt in Manhattan proper - but there is amazing Mexican food to be had. Tacos El Bronco in Brooklyn is fucking amazing. As is Taqueria Coatzingo in Jackson Heights. You can also get birria - slow-braised meat that is just to die for - at Tacos Birria in Jackson Heights too (taco truck on 78th street).

but yeah -its not like there is quality on every corner. that said, I lived in LA for 8 years and only had superb mexican a handful of times.

I'm curious Elder Sage - where did you move to?

I was born and raised on the upper east side and now live in Brooklyn. My partner is recovering from Le Corona and we are now talking about getting the fuck out. Probably upstate but still considering our options. Definitely not to another big city. I clocked my 45 years here - I'm ready for a garden.

Pretty clear what's going on in this thread: People who are bashing NY and NYers are those that either came to NY and failed, or those who are too afraid to even try it.

People defending NY are those who made NY work for them.

R53 Pizzanista in DTLA.

IIRC, bagels are boiled before baking. They have a tough, leathery crust or outside. Inside they are soft and bread-like. I was told by an elderly, native New York man that the ones with soft outsides are really just rolls. Others have said the water is different in NY and east coast, and that this accounts for the difference in breads. I do see a big difference in breads in different parts of the USA.

I'm hungry now. I want a great bagel with lox and cream cheese as well as pizza.

I think it is abundantly clear from reading this thread that...New Yorkers do not care at all how they come across in other cities or how they act around their respective populations!

They just care about stealing other state’s prime supplies of delicious and authentic Mexican food and bringing it back with them to further enrich New York!

NYC bagels are all about the water they are boiled in.

There are places outside of NYC that import NYC tap water for that purpose

I am not a baker, so no idea why that is.

R68, we moved to Tampa, it’s hot in the summer but probably the most sane city down here.

If New Yorkers aren’t interested in the fly over states, then maybe the fly over states should become more interesting.

[quote]NY’ers are arrogant about NY because deep down, they know the place is not that great and borderline shitty. They’re just overcompensating and trying to convince themselves that it’s not. Delusion at its finest.

This really summarizes Chicago. It's a great city to visit, but the people are quite homogenous, and al have the same fake "pride" in the same things: Da Bears/Bulls etc, Chicago DAHHHGS, deep dish pizza as R62 proves etc. And they have a huge chip in their shoulder that "Chicago is a world class city..... it really really is I tell you!!!!"

As someone above put it, once you live in NYC, everywhere else in the US just seems a lot smaller, less interesting. Nothing is open at night. You have to drive everywhere etc.

And while you can get good pizza in LA and other places, you CANNOT get pizza that doesn't taste like cardboard in Silicon Valley!

“We're failed and flawed Americans because we can't hack it in New York. We would do anything to move there or move back, if we could. “

Think you have a point. But work wise it’s not as stimulating or fulfilling any more. The people are the best I concur.

The point of the thread isn’t whether anyone can “make it” in New York, whatever that is supposed to mean. Rather, it’s about the interesting way that New Yorkers view the entire world through a thick NYC lens, even when it has nothing to do with New York.

[quote]Yuck! NYC pizza is NOT pizza.—Chicago

Oh, honey, no! That thick crust is like eating a quiche. I'm not sure what it is but it isn't proper pizza.

R75 because every city is DYING for New Yorkers to visit and compare everything ad nauseum.

I totally get what OP and others here are talking about. Witnessed it way too many times. That boorish, loud "I'm from NY, GTF out of my way" swagger is very irritating. Quite prevalent among dumb ass Guidos.

I can absolutely picture Chris "Fredo" Cuomo doing the whole "I'm a New Yawkah, don't mess with me" schtick.

I was born and raised in NY. Lived there for 33 years until I moved to LA. I love both cities equally and find that they complement each other with their differences. You really can’t compare the two. They’re both amazing cities with much to offer.

R82 is a peacemaker!

New Yorkers View Of The World

R84 Iconic steinberg.

This thread explains why so many DLers don't like Cuomo even though he seems to currently be America's crush

Interestingly enough, I actually like Chris Cuomo. I feel like he’s secure enough where he wouldn’t compare the world to New York though.

The Cuomos are from Queens.

Classically insufferable New York behavior is specific to Manhattanites.

Traveling in France, we identified ourselves as New Yorkers - to differentiate ourselves from the oafish Americans in white sneakers and ball caps. But we needn’t have. We didn’t wear a stitch of denim, and wore proper shoes. And we were just as grumpy, impatient and snobbish as Parisians.

R89, are you sure you didn’t wear a baseball cap in Cannes to make people think you’re a director?

[R73] I actually might have the answer - NYC's tap water is of surprisingly high quality, and has to do with the Ashokan Reservoir, about a hundred miles north, the last hand-built reservoir in the world and one of the largest ever. It is open to the public and is a beautiful lake surrounded by bridges and fountains with spectacular views of the Catskills. It is lined with limestone and other rocks and has a bed of what has been classified as Ice Age soil. The nutrients in this water may give NYC bagels their distinctive crust and a slight tangy flavor that is lacking elsewhere.

Or so the cuisine school grads I know tell me.

I love Montreal Water Bagels, which have a sweeter, more pastry-like consistency and are made with Montreal water, which has its own distinctive mineral component.

The NYC water system is truly an engineering marvel. It relies solely on gravity to travel hundreds of miles from pristine upstate reservoirs to your tap.

R90 lol You mean the Jewish producer baseball hat? Lmao

This article sets it straight about NYC water - it is good, but not the greatest as NY'ers think. And also, no, the water doesn't have an improving effect on bagels.

What's amazing is that all of this information is available quickly to New Yorkers, but they want to perpetuate their myths.

So many people from New York have moved to other parts of the US and opened authentic restaurants that Manhattan is more likely to have corporate-owned pizza and bagels.

[quote]And we were just as grumpy, impatient and snobbish as Parisians.

Good analogy. Everyone hates Parisians too. You should have stayed there.

Here’s a thought, maybe you New Yorkers shouldn’t be eating pizza and bagels anyway? Both aren’t good for you, and you can save these as a treat when you return to the mothership. 👽

New Yorkers do think they’re the center of the universe, there’s a sense that by virtue of just living in NYC it makes you somehow special. Then there’s the snobbery in thinking that NYC is where the cool trends in food or pop culture originate. Maybe that had some truths at one time but no more. High tech and entertainment influences in California have taken over as the dominant pop culture reference points.

All that leaves New Yorkers are their sad claims to bagel and pizza dominance. Whatever, I prefer a good Mission style burrito anyways. It’s the way New Yorkers proclaim “New York has the best....” that is obnoxious and off-putting, in that regard they have no equivalents. When Texans or Californians express something similar it doesn’t usually carry with it a sense of smug superiority. With Californians it’s more likely to be wonderment or befuddlement when expressing such opinions. With Texans it’s often more humorous and done as source of pride than put-down. I have lived in all three places, specifically San Francisco, LA, Brooklyn, and Austin.

A few years ago when Trader Joe’s first opened stores in NYC, my cousin and his wife were bragging to me about how great it was to be native New Yorkers because they get all the cool stores. They were telling me (in Cali) about how they have this cool grocery store called Trader Joe’s. They were crushed when I told them that TJ’s was a Californian institution since the 1980s, they’re everywhere here.

^LOL, I'll bet that was fun.

I'm not going to waste an FF on something as dumb as what r97 wrote, but seriously, we need a "JFC! What a moron!" button.

At least New Yorkers don’t smell bad like Parisians.

[quote] New Yorkers do think they’re the center of the universe,

Still is. Of the world to be less hyperbolic. Where else then?

[quote] NYC is where the cool trends in food or pop culture originate.

Not really. Recognition and polish in New York is essential though

[quote] makes you somehow special.

Yes. See above. Because there’s no other place yet. I would say the entire world has dumbed down since 9/11 and accelerated in 2008. The sad fact is that the city is not what it used to be. But as the water drops all the boats have dropped. Other cities are less interesting as well.

Now with the pandemic, it’s time to retreat to the fringes to think anew.

.

I feel like R103 was wearing something by Bijan when he wrote that.

[bold] The One Where Angry Bitter Flyoverstanis Unload About New York (But You Can Tell They Have Someone Very Specific In Mind, Probably A Friend From Flyoverstan Who Moved There And "Thinks He's Better Than Us" Now.)

Bijan! How dare of you r104 I am strictly Armani I'd have you know.

R103 Yes if by cool trends you mean circa 1980s to early 1990s and even that would hyperbolic to say so. Name a few trends that came out of NYC in recent years that have lasted and went on to influence lifestyle or pop culture worldwide. I'm not just talking about influential locally but worldwide. Also if a city has to constantly proclaim itself the center of the universe then it's really just trying to hold on to last vestiges of past glory. Face it, high tech, social media, and entertainment cultures plus all of its took hold in the west coast specifically in California. Is everything about these influences good? No, but it's shaped lifestyles around the world. Just in SF Bay Area alone these are some companies that got started here: Apple, Google, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Uber, Yelp, Tesla, and Zoom. These are just the ones that I could think of on the top of my head.